Saturday, May 2, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1947, Cleveland legend Bob Feller dazzled fans at Cleveland Stadium with his second one-hitter in ten days, striking out 10 Boston Red Sox batters in a brilliant 2–0 shutout.

Welcome to the first Saturday edition of The Ohio Flyover! Beginning today, we’ll be delivering state news to your inbox seven days a week. Let us know what you think by replying to this email.

It’s been a wild week of news, and some of the biggest stories may have flown right under your radar. President Trump hinted that a major UFO file release is coming “in the near future,” engineers are using sound waves to extinguish wildfires, and Saudi investors are pulling the plug on LIV Golf. Tune into The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting stories of the week. Tune in here!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you haven’t started shopping, start here: our 2026 Gift Guide has thoughtful, practical, and indulgent picks for every kind of mom.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 19 smart expenses to cut when money gets tight—practical tips that could help you save more, reduce stress, and take control of your finances faster.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Moreno Leads Senate Prediction Market Ban

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno led the U.S. Senate to a unanimous vote Thursday banning its members and staff from trading on prediction markets.

The resolution takes effect immediately and extends to senators’ family members. It passed just one week after reports surfaced that three congressional candidates had wagered on their own races, fueling concerns about insider trading on political outcomes.

Moreno, a first-term Republican from Ohio, authored the 14-line resolution and pushed it through by unanimous consent. “Serving in Congress is an honor, not a side hustle,” he said Thursday, adding that Americans deserve to know their leaders “are here for the right reason.”

The ban covers platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, where users wager real money on political and world events.

Ohio Lawmaker Eyes Gas Tax Holiday

Republican state lawmaker Ty Mathews’ push for a gas tax holiday as prices near $5 a gallon at pumps across Ohio was shot down Friday by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Mathews was finalizing legislation to temporarily suspend Ohio’s 38.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax to overlap with the busy summer travel season.

Mathews said he wants the state to absorb the cost, comparing the move to back-to-school sales tax holidays. The plan faced skepticism in Columbus, where some lawmakers worry about the hit to the state’s transportation budget.

The plan was rejected Friday by DeWine, who said, “We like to have good roads, and we like to be able to drive, and we also know that when we have huge holes in our roads, that can have a real impact on your car.”

Ohio Parks Dominate USA TODAY Rankings

USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards just recognized Ohio’s Cedar Point and Kings Island among the best theme parks in the country.

Kings Island in Mason was the standout mover, jumping four spots to land at No. 6 nationally. Cedar Point in Sandusky also made the list, joining its Ohio sibling in the theme park rankings.

Cedar Point’s haul extended beyond the park itself with Steel Vengeance, one of its flagship coasters, and BackBeatQue, the park’s barbecue restaurant, both earning top-10 spots. Ohio’s water parks got in on it too, with Kalahari Resorts claiming the No. 1 ranking for Best Indoor Water Park.

The awards are chosen by USA TODAY readers across the country and were released April 29. Both Cedar Point and Kings Island are now part of Six Flags, following Cedar Fair’s 2024 merger with the company.

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Money is tight, and with prices on the rise, deciding where to cut back can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to see a difference.

Here is how to start: Browse FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below and choose just one or two to try today. Even a single small change can create the breathing room you need to breathe a little easier.

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➤ Statewide: Early voting ends Sunday for Ohio’s May 5 primary. Five statewide races are on the ballot—governor, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, and secretary of state—with the race to succeed term-limited DeWine drawing the most attention. (More)

➤ Dayton: A Dayton man was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 24 years in prison for a 2024 murder, according to Montgomery County court records. (More)

➤ Statewide: The House passed the 2026 Farm Bill 224-200 Thursday in a close bipartisan vote, sending the bill on to the Senate. It’s the first farm bill to clear the chamber in years. (More)

➤ Columbus: The 2026 Ohio FFA State Convention wrapped up this week in Columbus, with proficiency award winners announced from chapters statewide. Outgoing state president Carter Boyd reflected on a year of leadership before passing the torch. (More)

➤ Toledo: Toledo home prices stay among Ohio’s most affordable: the median sale price hit $111,000 in February, up 0.5% year-over-year per Redfin, while price per square foot climbed 6%. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Cavaliers carried a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 last night in Toronto, with a chance to close out Round 1 of the playoffs. (See Result)

➤ The Cincinnati Reds enter May at 20-11 atop the NL Central for the first time in 20 years. Cleanup bat Sal Stewart and strikeout-pace setter Chase Burns lead a seven-game road trip, which began yesterday in Pittsburgh. (See Result)

➤ Ohio State baseball hosts No. 16 Nebraska this weekend in Columbus for a Big Ten series, looking to reverse a slide after dropping six of their last eight games. (More)

➤ Brady Edmunds, an Ohio State football quarterback commit, has made the Elite 11 Finals roster, signaling his status as one of the nation’s top QB prospects. (More)

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Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here’s what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below, and start with one or two today. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Pier W, a Lakewood restaurant perched above Lake Erie, landed on OpenTable’s 2026 list of the top 100 brunch spots in America. It was one of just four Ohio restaurants to make the cut. (More)

➤ Chef Matt Fish will open Proof Public House in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, adding another chapter to the legacy of one of the city’s most celebrated culinary names. (More)

➤ Ohio Stadium’s turf is staying green, not scarlet. A viral social media post claiming the Horseshoe was getting red turf fooled Buckeye fans everywhere before turning out to be a hoax. (More)

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